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History

The history of Ramadan dates back to the early days of Islam. According to Islamic tradition, the month of Ramadan was established as a month of fasting in 624 CE. The month was established two years after the Hijra, Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina. It is believed that during the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the holy book Quran from Allah (God) through the angel Jibril. This event is known as the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) and is considered the most important night of the month.

Significance

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. The fast is broken each day with a meal called Iftar. In addition to fasting, Ramadan is also a time for spiritual reflection, worship and charity. During the month, Muslims are encouraged to perform additional prayers, read the Quran and engage in acts of kindness and generosity.

The Beginning of Islam

To understand how Ramadan became such an important part of Islam, we need to go back to the very beginning, 610 A.D., to be precise. This is the year during which an Arabian man by the name of Muhammad (PBUH) meditated in the cave of Hira, located in the Jabal an-Nour mountain close to Mecca. Whilst he was meditating, Muhammad (PBUH) was visited by the angel Jibril who revealed the first words of what would later be known as the Qur’an. The angel told Muhammad (PBUH) that these words came directly from Allah (SWT) and that He is the one and only God. At this time in Arabia, it was common for people to worship several different gods, but the angel told Muhammad (PBUH) that Allah (SWT) was the only, all-knowing, true God.

After revealing the first words of Allah (SWT), the angel commanded that Muhammad (PBUH) recite what he had just been shown. Muhammad (PBUH) couldn’t read or write, but he was able to recite the words perfectly. It was explained to Muhammad (PBUH) that he was the final of the prophets Allah (SWT) had sent to spread the teachings of the religion of Islam. Other prophets Allah (SWT) had sent also feature in the teachings of Judaism and Christianity and include Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus).

The night the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) first saw the angel Jibril is known as Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). Many Muslims believe this night occurred on the 27th night of the lunar year (which the Islamic calendar is based on), though some believe it occurred on any of the other odd nights in the final 10 days of the month.

The Revelations

Whilst some believe that all of Allah's (SWT) teachings were revealed on Laylat al-Qadr, many believe that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not shown all the teachings of Allah (SWT) immediately, and instead, he continued to receive revelations for a further 23 years following Laylat al-Qadr.

Whichever train of thought you choose to follow, the principle behind the revelations remains the same. Allah (SWT) laid out five core principles to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which He said are the values all Muslims (followers of the words of Allah) must live their lives by.

The five core values are known as the Pillars of Islam, and they are:

Shahada

This is the first and arguably most important pillar because it is when a person declares their belief in the one true God, Allah (SWT).

Salat

Those who follow Islam must make every effort to pray five times every day in order to cement their dedication to Allah (SWT) and strengthen their bond with Him.

Zakat

One of Allah’s (SWT) key teachings is that we must give charity to those less fortunate, and that is lamented in the third pillar, known as Zakat.

Sawm

This is the pillar from which Ramadan is derived as it means ‘to fast’. Ramadan is observed by Muslims in order to target this pillar.

Hajj

All able-bodied Muslims are expected to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca – the location where the first words of Allah (SWT) were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Origin of Ramadan

The school of thought you follow will depend on how long you believe the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the revelations, and this will also dictate the answer you believe to be true for the question of ‘when did Ramadan start in history?’

Those who believe the revelations took place over 23 years are of the firm belief that the teachings of Sawm (and subsequently Ramadan) were revealed towards the latter half of that period of time, in around 622 A.D. to be exact. At this time, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers lived in Medina after they faced fierce persecution in Mecca when they tried to spread the words of Allah (SWT).

At this time, the weather was particularly hot, and this influenced the name of Ramadan when it was first revealed. Ramadan means ‘burning heat’ in an ode to the time of the year it was first revealed, and this time of year marries up with Laylat al-Qadr, which happened some 12 years prior.

The Teachings of Ramadan

As mentioned, Ramadan is observed to honour the fourth pillar of Islam, known as Sawm. As per the history of Ramadan fasting, there are several reasons why Muslims are required to observe Sawm, including:

• To demonstrate self-control and restraint
• To cleanse their bodies
• To be reminded that some people do not have access to food and go hungry every day
• To be more compassionate and grateful for what they do have
• To strengthen their bond with Allah (SWT)

Time spent not eating during Ramadan should be spent reciting the Qur’an and praying instead. In combination with the five teachings of Ramadan listed above, people will be able to become better Muslims and better members of their wider community.

Ramadan Requirements

Whilst Ramadan is a key part of Islam, staying healthy is of utmost importance, and for that reason, not everyone will be able to abstain from eating and drinking during the day. Those who are pre-pubescent and growing, old and frail, sick and on medication, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating or travelling are not required to fast (they must pay Fidyah instead), but there are other Ramadan requirements they must abide by.

In addition to not eating between sunrise and sunset, Muslims must also refrain from all impure thoughts and activities, including swearing, gossiping, arguing, fighting and sexual contact.

It is also a requirement that all Muslims with food in excess of their means make a charitable payment called Fitrana. Historically, people would measure whether they had food beyond their means in a unit called ‘Sa. This is the equivalent of around 3 kg of basic staple foods like wheat. This dates back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), right at the start of the history of Ramadan, with those who had food beyond their means donating one ‘Sa to those who did not.

In modern times, most Muslims pay their Fitrana as a monetary donation to a charity, such as Muslim Aid, which then uses the money to distribute food for the hungry. Whilst this differs slightly from the original history of Ramadan in Islam, it still follows the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by giving to those less fortunate.

Ramadan Customs

It is traditional for Muslims to break their fast for their Suhoor, Iftar and Eid ul-Fitr celebrations by eating dates. This is a custom that goes back to the very first observance of Ramadan, as it is said that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ate dates before he broke his fast. Though it is a custom, it is not a requirement.

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